twin studies: July 2012

July 27, 2012

camo craving

images via atlantic-pacific, caroline's mode, pantonism + fashion squad

camo jackets: never have i so heavily regretted not buying something. j.crew had a steady supply of camouflage field jackets a few seasons back, but i never even considered buying one -- partially because i already owned a j.crew field jacket in solid army green, but also because i didn't know how i would possibly pull off such a strong look.

but now that fall is approaching and camouflage is popping up everywhere -- including the valentino and kenzo runways -- i'm beginning to scour the internet for options. i love how blair eadie made camo look preppy and cool (image 1) with bright blue gingham. then she gave it a polished spin with a full skirt, black pumps and a ladylike bag (image 5).

that's what's so great about this pattern -- you can wear it a million different ways, and it always feels fresh. i know liz, a self-proclaimed tag chaser, will be more than thrilled to bring something army-worthy into our shared wardrobe.

remember, camo isn't just for jackets -- camo blouses, pants and dresses are making an impact, too. i'd love to wear this karl jersey dress with a mix of tough and luxe accessories:

clockwise from top left: karl dress, karl vest, maison martin margiela cuff, j. crew cuff, isabel marant booties

...more shopping ideas below...

II emily

July 19, 2012

baroque is back

of all the fall trends emerging this season, baroque is by far my favorite.
i know what you're thinking. at first glance, it seems kind of crazy. a couple of years ago i took a course about baroque art in italy, and i couldn't imagine how that era would translate to modern fashion. and if it did, there was no way it would be wearable... right?

wrong. baroque came about so fluidly, it was almost as if designers had been storing these dramatic shapes and gorgeous patterns in their closets for years and were just waiting for the right moment to share them with the world. proenza schouler, balmain and alexander mcqueen -- among countless others -- turned out particularly incredible head-to-toe masterpieces:

{from left: proenza schouler, balmain, alexander mcqueen / images via style.com}

personally, i would love to wear that balmain get-up every single day -- but let's be realistic. for our day-to-day routines, full-on brocades and scarf prints are just not going to work.

in fact, i prefer modernizing the trend by sticking to simple, boxy tops, like the ones below, which add angles to the swirly patterns and keep things sleek. you can wear these tops with anything -- even your ratty jeans or shorts -- but slim pants look especially amazing. try a bold color or leather finish for some nice contrast; i especially love the idea of wearing that ornate preen top with those super-sporty side-stripe rag & bone pants -- they kind of feel like they were made for each other.

tie it all together with a clutch that doesn't distract from the artfulness of your shirt. oversized styles hold everything you need during the day but look perfectly polished at night, instantly making the baroque trend perfect for any occasion.

peep my ideas below to get the look:

{ look #1: preen top / rag & bone pants / 3.1 phillip lim clutch (bonus: it reverses to white!) }

{ look #2: vionnet top / michael kors pants / clare vivier clutch }

{ look #3: marni embellished top / helmut lang pants / the row clutch }

more shopping ideas below.....

July 17, 2012

msgm resort 2013

just when i thought resort fever had officially died down, i stumbled upon msgm's collection. you already know i loved massimo's giorgetti's pre-fall '12 line, and for resort, he used all of the same signature touches: gorgeous florals, mixed prints, unexpected colors and soft structure. however, unlike fall's ultra-feminine vibe, resort is much sportier and androgynous (evidently he was inspired by the upcoming olympics - how festive!)

there's still enough girly attitude to satisfy the quintessential msgm sweetheart, but sleek jackets, graphic stripes and athletic touches (like baseball caps and varsity letters) are a very welcome surprise.

{ images via glamour goddess }

II emily

July 16, 2012

a little sparkle

{ image via stockholm street style }

this is one of those pictures that makes me wonder if i live under a rock. seriously. how have i not thought to buy a metallic purple coat before?!

well, mostly because i'm not ezgi kiramer, to put it simply. it's a harsh truth. (btw, she told us it's balenciaga - should've known!)

not only is this a super unique and stylish piece, but as you can see, it can be dressed down and worn a million different ways by throwing in a few basics. and yes, leather pants are indeed a basic, and a slouchy white tee (plus showstopping prada heels) truly makes everything cooler.

i'm loving shimmery finishes on anything, as evident in my recent post about the APC x vanessa seward collaboration, which features covetable icy blue and champagne separates. it's truthfully all i want right now.

follow ezgi's lead and be one of the first to wear a shimmer-finish piece this season -- a few little ideas below:

{ clockwise from top left: topshop skater dress / free people dress / topshop pleather leggings / topshop jacquard pants / topshop playsuit / jimmy choo clutch / 3.1 phillip lim bag }

II emily

July 13, 2012

shark tooth jewelry

a few weeks ago i visited the chelsea market for the first time and kicked myself for not checking it out sooner. i'd heard great things about the clothes, the food, and especially the local artisan jewelry. different vendors set up shop inside the market and put their lovely, meticulously-crafted jewels on display -- most of them being of the spare, dainty variety. one vendor in particular had some amazing single-charm necklaces cast in silver and gold, and although i would normally gravitate towards something girly, it was a gold shark tooth piece that caught my eye.

simultaneously edgy and delicate, i felt like i needed to have it. however, a hefty price tag dissuaded me. i didn't forget about it though, and upon stumbling upon this image below -- a more intense version -- as well as dozens of iterations on etsy, i think i've found plenty of showstopping options.

{from top: photo via tuula / illuminance jewelry / magic loot / ke aloha jewelry / mylo jewelry}

II emily

July 12, 2012

APC x vanessa seward

designer collaborations can be kind of a hit or miss. there's the good, of course: remember when missoni crashed target's website? and nike x liberty london have continually turned out amazing floral-printed sneakers (which sound wrong but are so, so right... as i proved around this time last year).

but then there's the bad. as much as it pains me to speak ill of my beloved doc martens, their collaboration with swarovski was not my cup of tea. the translation was a bit too literal -- and other collabs have suffered similar fates.

this was not the case for A.P.C. x vanessa seward, in which the sleek, minimal designs of A.P.C. get a healthy dose of femininity from vanessa seward, who used to design for azzaro. the collection is super-edited and cohesive -- imagine a stylish French girl suddenly goes ultra-glam. simple shapes and silhouettes meet unexpected hues (like slate blue and mocha brown), retro prints and ah-mazing shimmer finishes. it's sweet, modern, and not in the least bit "trendy" -- i can see myself wearing these pieces for years to come. with prices ranging from $300-$700, it's still an investment, but arguably an easier one to make!

below, my favorite looks:

{ images via refinery 29 }

II emily

July 4, 2012

nyc photo diary: part 2

well, first thing's first... happy 4th of july!

i can't wait to celebrate here in nyc (in fact, i should probably start getting ready...)

but i wanted to add a few more photos to continue the nyc photo diary - except none of the photos below really have much to do with each other. at all. except that they were all taken here in new york!